PART I: SOME FUN WITH METHODS
The following links and questions are intended to get us started
in this Tuesday's discussions of comparative criminal justice systems.
I would like to see you all talking and discussing as much as
possible.
I will ask this question at the start: Was 2011 a better year for the
Cubs or for the White Sox?
Some problems in comparing anything, whether shoes, apples, or baseball
teams is:
**What are we actually comparing and why?
**What infomration do we collect, and how?
**What interpretations can we make from it all?
These are basically methods questions, so let's take a look at comparing
a few things.
1) I say that UIC is the most dangerous campus in the state,
and we should have walls around the campus to keep crooks out.
Here's my evidence:
--Crime on state college campus data
--UIC most dangerous!
THE QUESTION: As comparative criminologists, do these data support my claim?
2) Chicago IS THE MOST CORRUPT CITY IN THE COUNTRY!!! UIC
did a study to PROVE it!! The media and selfrighteously enraged:
--UIC Corruption Study
THE QUESTION: Do the data PROVE that CHICAGO is the *most* corrupt?
PART II: BRINGING IN REICHEL
Because you are reading Reichel, there is no need for me to regurgitate
what you've read in his chapter. So, let's just ask a few questions
based on his work:
1) How does Reichel suggest we compare counteries' penal sanctions?
2) What are some other ways we could (or have punished)?
3) What is Reichel's view of capital punishment? Does he present
data/evidence, or does he display a biased position that is
not evidence-based? (or, what we call "ideological")
4) What are some of the other key issues that Reichel identifies
in comparing countries?
5) Using this body of data, which countries have the highest incarceration
rate and which the lowest? How would you explain these differences?
6) Compared with European countries, is the US prison system
better or worse? (hint: This is a "google" question)--check
out a few, such as France, Russia, Denmark, Spain
PART III: COMPARING THINGS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY
We will likely run out of time to address the following issues, but
to start: Ask yourself: What should an ideal prison look like?
(half the trick is to define "ideal!")
**Comparing prison rates over time
**Comparing prison rates between states
**Comparing prison rates between males/females
**Comparing the male/female prison experience
**Historical comparisons
--prisons & prison conditions
--prisoners' rights
**comparing what we have to what could/should be
For those who like data to back up their claims, here are a few links
with lots of information.
Page maintained by: Jim Thomas - jthomas@math.niu.edu